Gold Nuggets 2012

San Diego County returned to the gold circle Thursday at the 49th annual Gold Nuggets program in San Francisco for architecture and design.

Local projects won three grand awards -- up from zero last year -- 17 merit awards and one special judges commendation for the San Pasqual Academy.

The winners were announced at the PCBC annual conference and exposition, formerly called the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, that brings together commercial and residential developers, primarily from western states.

The contest, conducted when real estate development remains in the doldrums, still attracted 456 entries in 59 categories from throughout the U.S. and other countries. Builder magazine was the cosponsor.

"The entries reflected the innovative, skillful and high-quality concepts development teams are producing in response to challenging markets," said Iowa architect Stephen Moore, one of six judges on the jury.

Carl Lagoni, vice chairman of the Bassenian/Lagoni Architects firm in Newport Beach, said residential entries showed "an exceptionally high bar" for others to top nationally and internationally.

"We were truly impressed by the design work we saw across the range of project types," Lagoni said.

The Gold Nuggets program is considered the oldest and one of the most prestigious design competition in the building industry. Ideas that appear in commercial and residential projects often signal trends that are emulated elsewehre in future years.

Gold Nugget grand awards 2012

Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine for office or professional building

La Jolla

Builder: Hensel Phelps

Developer: Lankford & Associates

Architect/Designer: Fentress Architects

Associate Architect: Davis Davis Architects

Judges statement: "There is a lot to love about this project.The light-filled and animated interior spaces should provide a very stimulating workplace. Metaphors were flying the during the judges' meeting when it came time to talk about the super-articulated exterior. DNA? Cell division? It is marvelous to look at and shows the collective inspirational powers of the aggregated research facilities."

Palomar College Multi-Disciplinary Building for nonresidential education building

San Marcos

Builder: CW Driver

Owner/Developer: Palomar Community College District

Architect/Designer: LPA

Judges statement: "While the design team described the many significant sustainable features of this classroom building, the judges were undoubtedly seduced by its forms, which prove that high performance can definitely come in a stunning package. Crisp and taut on the outside, it opens at its heart to a sculpture gallery of whimsical and memorable forms. The photography included in this submittal was stunning, and together with the diagrams, helped to explain and flaunt the building at the same time."

Riverwalk for affordable residential project of 15 to 30 units per acre

Nestor

Builder, developer, interior design: Affirmed Housing Group

Architect/Designer: Studio E Architects

Land Planner: Darsono Design

Judges statement: "This project is a great example of the synergy found in emerging, second-generation affordable housing. Reclaiming a blighted creek that bisects the community, the site plan encourages interaction with a public trail system and empowering architecture. The thoughtful solution overcomes an engineered parking solution by siting main buildings at a slight angle to the street, creating a second sight line and layering of buildings. Dormers, bay windows and color add an additional level of scale and care."